NZQA registered unit standard
28045 version 1
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Title
Demonstrate knowledge of aeronautical meteorology and air
navigation for air traffic services
Level
5
Credits
15
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe the
composition of the atmosphere and various meteorological
phenomena that may be encountered in the provision of air
traffic services; demonstrate knowledge of standard
meteorological reports, the abbreviations and terminology
used, and types of information available to pilots from air traffic
services; demonstrate the ability to apply meteorological
observations and complete appropriate reports; describe the
properties of the earth, in relation to navigation, and the
methods used to express position and direction for air traffic
services; demonstrate knowledge of relevant maps and charts
associated with aviation and air traffic services; describe and
differentiate between various aviation time references for air
traffic services; demonstrate knowledge of Visual Flight Rules
(VFR) navigation procedures for air traffic services;
demonstrate knowledge of the principle operations of radio and
electronic aids for navigation used in the air traffic service
environment; and demonstrate knowledge of the principle
properties and applications of various navigation aids used in
the air traffic service environment.
Classification
Aviation > Air Traffic Services
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
The Civil Aviation Act 1990 and Civil Aviation Rule Part 65 detail the legislative
requirements in relation to this unit standard. This unit standard is aligned to the Civil
Aviation Act 1990, Civil Aviation Rule Part 65, which reflects International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices as adopted by
New Zealand. This unit standard is also aligned to the associated Civil Aviation
Advisory Circular (AC) 65 series containing the syllabus for Air Traffic Services
Personnel Licences and Ratings, and Part 65.103(a)(5)(v) that applies to the Flight
Service Operator Licence. Information relating to Civil Aviation Authority of New
Zealand (CAA of NZ) Rules can be obtained from the CAA of NZ website on
http://www.caa.govt.nz/.
2
Evidence presented for assessment against this unit standard must be in accordance
with standard industry texts.
ServiceIQ
SSB Code 9068
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
3
28045 version 1
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Standard industry texts include but are not limited to:
State approved documentation,
air traffic services (ATS) provider exposition,
aerodrome emergency plans,
published aviation training manuals or text books.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the composition of the atmosphere and various meteorological phenomena that
may be encountered in the provision of air traffic services.
Evidence requirements
1.1
International standard atmosphere (ISA) is described and explained.
Range
1.2
Stages of a thunderstorm are interpreted and explained.
Range
1.3
drizzle, rain, sleet, hail, snow, showers, dew.
Factors that affect visibility are identified and explained.
Range
1.8
hoar frost, clear (glaze) ice, rime ice, freezing rain.
Forms of precipitation are described and explained.
Range
1.7
warm, cold, occluded, stationary fronts, characteristic weather and
movement, dangers to flying.
The types and properties of icing are described and explained.
Range
1.6
dry adiabatic lapse rate, saturated adiabatic lapse rate.
The characteristics of fronts are described and explained.
Range
1.5
growing stage, mature stage, decaying stage.
The adiabatic process in relation to atmospheric stability is described and
explained.
Range
1.4
pressure, surface temperature, lapse rate.
fog (radiation, advection), mist, haze, smoke, sea spray,
precipitation.
Turbulence and its causes are described and explained.
Range
ServiceIQ
SSB Code 9068
thermal, mechanical, wind shear (vertical and horizontal), wake
turbulence.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1.9
28045 version 1
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The characteristics, formation, and typical location of a jet stream is identified
and explained.
Range
vertical and lateral extent, wind strength.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of standard meteorological reports, the abbreviations and
terminology used, and types of information available to pilots from air traffic services.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Distinctions between forecasts and meteorological reports are explained.
2.2
Meteorological reports issued for pilots are described by type.
Range
may include but is not limited to – aviation routine weather report
(METAR), aviation selected special weather report (SPECI),
terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAF), aerodrome forecast (AF),
area forecast (ARFOR), information concerning en route weather
phenomena which may affect the safety of aircraft in flight
(SIGMET), flight information service communications broadcast
(FISB), automatic terminal information services (ATIS).
Outcome 3
Demonstrate the ability to apply meteorological observations and complete appropriate
reports.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Meteorological information is gathered, analysed, encoded, and decoded using
standard abbreviations and formats.
Outcome 4
Describe the properties of the earth, in relation to navigation, and the methods used to
express position and direction for air traffic services.
Evidence requirements
4.1
The shape of the earth and its rotational properties are described.
Range
4.2
may include but is not limited to – sphere, oblate spheroid, true
north, true south, axis, rotation, revolution.
The features of the earth used for navigation are described.
Range
ServiceIQ
SSB Code 9068
may include but is not limited to – great circles, small circles, lines
of latitude, lines of longitude, equator, grid, meridian, prime
meridian, over (abeam), distance, bearing, rhumb lines.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
4.3
Distance references used in air traffic services are defined and knowledge of
when to use each is demonstrated.
Range
4.4
may include but is not limited to – mach number, km/h, knots,
mph.
The cardinal points, operation of a compass, and associated errors are
described.
Range
4.6
may include but is not limited to – nautical miles, kilometres, feet,
statute miles, metres.
Speed references used in air traffic services are defined and converted.
Range
4.5
28045 version 1
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may include but is not limited to – true, magnetic, compass,
variation deviation, north, south, east, west.
Methods used by pilots to express their geographical position are described.
Range
may include but is not limited to –
methods: geographical, line features, cocked hat curve, bearing
and distance, relative bearing, latitude/longitude;
equipment: non-directional beacon (NDB), very high frequency
omni-directional radio range (VOR), distance measuring
equipment (DME), global positioning system (GPS), ultra high
frequency tactical air navigation aid.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate knowledge of relevant maps and charts associated with aviation and air
traffic services.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Types of maps and charts are identified and the various features of each are
described.
Range
may include but is not limited to – visual planning chart (VPC),
visual navigation chart (VNC), en route and area charts.
Outcome 6
Describe and differentiate between various aviation time references for air traffic services.
Evidence requirements
6.1
The different time references used by air traffic services are described,
including reasons regarding the use of each.
Range
ServiceIQ
SSB Code 9068
may include but is not limited to – Greenwich mean time (GMT),
coordinated universal time (UTC), local mean time (LMT), New
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28045 version 1
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Zealand standard time (NZST), New Zealand daylight time
(NZDT), morning civil twilight (MCT), evening civil twilight (ECT).
Outcome 7
Demonstrate knowledge of Visual Flight Rules (VFR) navigation procedures for air traffic
services.
Evidence requirements
7.1
VFR triangles of velocities using the navigation flight computer are described.
7.2
Navigation flight computer equations are described.
7.3
The ‘1 in 60’ rule application is described.
7.4
VFR flight planning and flight log use are described.
7.5
VFR flight plan filing is described.
Outcome 8
Demonstrate knowledge of the principle operations of radio and electronic aids for
navigation used in the air traffic service environment.
Evidence requirements
8.1
The characteristics of electromagnetic waves are described.
Range
8.2
wavelength, frequency, amplitude.
The eight main radio wavelength bands and their uses are described.
Range
low frequency (LF), medium frequency (MF), high frequency (HF),
very high frequency (VHF), ultra high frequency (UHF), extremely
high frequency (EHF), super high frequency (SHF), very low
frequency (VLF).
Outcome 9
Demonstrate knowledge of the principle properties and applications of various navigation
aids used in the air traffic service environment.
Evidence requirements
9.1
The operation and utilisation of direction finding equipment (VDF) is described.
9.2
Types of non-directional beacons (NDB) are described.
Range
ServiceIQ
SSB Code 9068
locator, en-route NDB.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28045 version 1
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9.3
The doppler very high frequency omni directional radio range (D/VOR) is
described.
9.4
Distance measuring equipment (DME) is described.
9.5
The operating principles of inertial navigation systems (INS) and global
positioning systems (GPS) are described.
9.6
The functionality of an instrument landing system (ILS) is described.
may include but is not limited to – localiser, glide slope, outer
marker, middle marker, inner marker.
Range
Replacement information
This unit standard replaced unit standard 23455, unit
standard 23463, and unit standard 23464.
Planned review date
31 December 2018
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
21 November 2013
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0174
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
ServiceIQ
SSB Code 9068
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
28045 version 1
Page 7 of 7
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact ServiceIQ qualifications@serviceiq.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes
to the content of this unit standard.
ServiceIQ
SSB Code 9068
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016